One of Steve Jobs (founder of Apple Inc.) core philosophies is innovation. When Steve had his version of an mp3 player in mind, he wanted it to be different. Steve wanted it so exquisite that after the first glance it would automatically separate itself from the competition. The result of his thinking is a masterpiece of design that has revolutionized our interaction with music. But that revolution has come with a price. Ipods are taking over our natural instinct to communicate and leaving us like zombies. Remember the old days when people were shopping in the mall, or standing at a bus stop, and we would have a very trivial conversation with the man/woman next to us? Or as children, going on a field trip, we would indulge in the company of whomever we preselected to sit next to us? Now as a society, our mouths are no longer instruments of the intended use, but merely idle wind pipes.
Or how about when arguing with a partner, instead of actually TALKING it out, we say “forget it!” and make haste to the soothing affirmation of Maxwell’s majestic melody and soft voice. Or maybe the aggressive tone and dramatic eagerness to vent of Marshall Mathers emotion engorged music. Whatever the choice of music you encompass, it has the same tragic ending; desocialization.
Desocialization is the removal of a person from a customary social environment. It’s no longer taking the time to get to know strangers and making them allies. How else would you even know the people you do if you never speak? Ipods even come with ear buds that help cancel out any noise in background to intensify your experience, making you feel secluded in a world of your own. The device is great but if we are busy listening to an ipod everywhere we go, we are surely missing out on life. Missing out on the opportunities of potential interactions with a stranger who could inadvertently become your greatest ally. Everyone knows about networking. How else can you build a business or spread the word if you are not sociable?
Or what about in relationships. It is as if ipods are the new alcohol. It’s a legal drug used as a coping method. What happened to the days when we use to talk it out? Resolving a heated issue in the midst of its appearance is always better than letting it rest in the shadows of your heart, marinating in pain or some other negative emotion. Once the issue is revisited, it carries not only itself, but the weight of other similar issues that lie dormant as well.
This is not a strike at ipods in any way. It would be hypocritical to say do not own one because I have an ipod. This is just something I want people to open theirs eyes to. And hopefully the next time they decide to use it, they will think twice about why they are, and use it properly.
Or how about when arguing with a partner, instead of actually TALKING it out, we say “forget it!” and make haste to the soothing affirmation of Maxwell’s majestic melody and soft voice. Or maybe the aggressive tone and dramatic eagerness to vent of Marshall Mathers emotion engorged music. Whatever the choice of music you encompass, it has the same tragic ending; desocialization.
Desocialization is the removal of a person from a customary social environment. It’s no longer taking the time to get to know strangers and making them allies. How else would you even know the people you do if you never speak? Ipods even come with ear buds that help cancel out any noise in background to intensify your experience, making you feel secluded in a world of your own. The device is great but if we are busy listening to an ipod everywhere we go, we are surely missing out on life. Missing out on the opportunities of potential interactions with a stranger who could inadvertently become your greatest ally. Everyone knows about networking. How else can you build a business or spread the word if you are not sociable?
Or what about in relationships. It is as if ipods are the new alcohol. It’s a legal drug used as a coping method. What happened to the days when we use to talk it out? Resolving a heated issue in the midst of its appearance is always better than letting it rest in the shadows of your heart, marinating in pain or some other negative emotion. Once the issue is revisited, it carries not only itself, but the weight of other similar issues that lie dormant as well.
This is not a strike at ipods in any way. It would be hypocritical to say do not own one because I have an ipod. This is just something I want people to open theirs eyes to. And hopefully the next time they decide to use it, they will think twice about why they are, and use it properly.
3 comments:
"your girlfriend jealous..you got the fattest"... I LOVE THAT SONG!
Anyway, I never realized that when I'm mad at my significant or better yet we're mad at each other I put the ipod on and try to think about the music and not the problem at hand... the bad part..I have an ipod full of love songs that do a good job at keep my cheeks damp...NONETHELESS... I am reducing my ipod to exercising and long rides (not that much talking in the world). But wait... I have a ipod video, when will I be able to watch it? DANG IT TECHNOLOGY! LOL!
lol not what i meant by the posting to eliminate the usage of your ipod, just check your reasoning thats all. I use my ipod for studying, excercising, and long rides as well, but only when the conversation obviously dies.
AY OH... I'm tired of using technology! Why don't we talk it out instead of "walking it out." Anyways this is interesting, and you definitely making people think.
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